Concealed Love

Chapter-39 " Thankful to you "

                After they all gathered round the centre table in the room Minerva asked, " So is it all settled now Iri? What happened? "

Iri smiled and said, " Yes, everything is fine, I heard that some burglars had entered our house and just couldn't contact Ella and Jace for the whole day so I ended up panicking, everything is fine now. "

Simon answered, " Again? Wow is it because the house is on the outskirts? That is happening a lot, you should change the place. "

Iri who was thinking hard on how to answer looked at Ella for help but she was not going to say anything and the other two who knew of the situation pretended like they didn't even knew what they were talking about.

She felt abandoned and said, " Yes, that should be better, we'll try looking around for a new house. "

" Great, tell me if you need any help, I know some good places. " Simon offered and Minerva said, " Me too, you can tell us if you need anything. " Dane also nodded along and Iri thanked them all.

Dane asked them, " So where are you guys staying these days? "

Iri answered again as the others acted dumb again, " Aldri's place, we'll be bothering him for a while. "

Al spoke up finally, " It's fine, I'm glad that you're staying at my place. "

Simon said to himself mentally, ' of course you are, you can have all the time you want with your girl.' And some others there also shared his thoughts.

But avoiding their thoughts for then, Minerva said, " Yes, it's not safe to stay in a hotel this days. It's better to stay home and Al's have a good security around it, I hope? " She turned to Al and he confirmed.

They noticed that something was different with Jace, he didn't talk to them like before nor did he look as cheerful.

Simon asked him, " Jace dude, you okay? "

Jace snaps out of it and with a natural smile said, " Ya I'm fine was just thinking about something. "

He said "okay then" And didn't bother him anymore about it. Al and Ella were naturally not a big talker so they didn't noticed anything other than them acting all gummy.

Al was looking at Ella with her every move, she was listening to others, drinking her wine and drinking it sip by sip and Al missed none of her movements. She was and remain oblivious to his stares but the others got note of it.

Simon who was sitting on the couch next to Al tapped him by his shoulder and motioned for him to come closer.

It was Al's first time meeting them after getting back all his memories so his friends were both familiar and strange to him. He moved towards Simon a bit to listen to him.

Simon leaned to Al a little and whispered, " Hey bud, what's going on? You guys cool? "

Al didn't understand his question very well so he just said, " Ya, we're okay. "

Simon clicked his tongue and said, " Not that, are you guys going out? "

Al understood him and said, " Oh that. No, we're not! "

Ella turned and saw Al and Simon whispering something amongst themselves, thinking of the old Al who was always strict with himself and always making stern face whispering with his friend like a normal person felt strange and she let out a soft giggle.

The whole room turn quiet and all turned to look at her starstruck, specially Al, whose heartstrings wavered by hearing her voice.

Ella looked at them confused and asked, " What? " In a curious tone.

Iri said, " Your laughing voice is so cute you should laugh more. " The others nodded their head in agreement.

Ella smiled and said feeling somewhat shy, " Oh, I didn't relised I was laughing. "

The others encourage her to laugh more and they chatted along for more different topics.

The others were absorbed in talking among themselves while Al and Ella listened. He leaned a bit towards her and said, " Are you enjoying yourself? Your content with your current life? "

Ella also answered in a low voice, only for him to hear and said with a smile, " Yes, they are nice people. They're quite good. They're good people, I'm glad they are with me. "

Al chuckled, " Yes they are and you're a cute person. I'm glad you're with me. "

Ella glared at him and he grinned. The others made eye signs at each other asking one another what was going on with them and Jace signalled saying, ' nothing as of yet. '

They made a suspicious face until the end of they day and had to wind up. Ella went with Al and Iri with Jace, the rest left alone, telling each other when they were alone, " Well goodnight, lonely singles. " To each other and left.

Al and Ella entered the house but Jace left after dropping off Iri saying he would be gone for some time.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Some day's went on calmly and without any problem. Iri went to work from Al's place while he went to his office like usual and Ella remained home most of the days.

Ella and Al had gotten much more comfortable around one another and talk with each other more often and casually.

One evening when the sun was turning orange in the sky Ella was resting out at the open space in the garden sitting at the chair placing her laptop in her lap and scrolling some pictures.

Al suddenly popped up from behind, scarring her intentionally and when she jump in fright he laughed and sat down next to her leaning his head on the small table beside them.

He saw the pictures she was going through and asked, " You're looking for a house? "

She was still acting mad from the fright he gave her and said with an angry voice, " Yes, we'll move out as soon as things settled down. Than I can be at peace. "

He knew she was just showing her temper and smiled, " Ow, I'm sorry, are you not happy staying here? Do you need anything? You know you can stay here for as long as you like even is it's forever. " He tried to calm her.

" Well the place is very good, the helpers are so nice but I don't like the owner. " She shrugged turning her face away from him.

He smiled and said, " Well I can't change that but I'll do whatever you want, I will be at your mercy. " He pretended to be like a servant for a master and they both smiled.

Al looked at her smilling and said, " As I thought, I really love it when you smile. I died without seeing that happy face in the last life and I regretted that the most. "

Ella also remembered the past and said, " Well that wasn't my fault. I just couldn't be happy with the situation. "

Al smiled a little and said, " Did you like me that much? For the always cheerful and bring girl like you to show such sullen face?"

" Yes, I really liked Al and I was not so cheerful and bright. " She blushed as she argue back.

Al laughed but got back his cool composure quickly and said, " You know that even if the time and body changed I'm still me right? "

Ella replied quickly, " Of course I know that. I just... " Her words trailed off.

Al sighed deeply, looking a bit down as he asked, " Have I change so much that you can't believe me anymore? Do I not deserve you love now? "

Ella was flustered as she didn't want to hurt him or make him sad, " No, it's not you, it's not your fault.... I.. I'm not sure of myself anymore, I don't know if I deserve you affection. I have done many things when you were not her Al, many bad things you don't know which I don't even want to think about. "

She hesitated as even she herself didn't want to think of those times. Al seeing that there was something holding her back asked, " It's okay Ella, you can tell me. No matter the reason, I will always stay by your side. Please know that. "

She started, " Back in the days when I was still running from place to place, I... I usually hide among the humans and most of the times I couldn't remain for longs as they found out about me. "

She took in a breath as she went on, " There were not so many people in a place then and when the demons found me, they set the villages I hide on fire killing the humans there. And I... Instead of helping them and fighting up I ran alone leaving them behind along with their cries and screams. I was so weak and selfish that even to this day, I don't wanna forgive myself. "

She kept her head low as she said those words not daring to look at the other.

Al saw her hands trembling a little and her voice shaking as she talked about it, he took her hands slowly within his making her face his way and said, " It's okay, none of it was your fault Ella, running was the only choice you had, those demons hate humans naturally and you giving yourself up wouldn't have stopped them from killing those people so don't blame yourself. I'm glad you survived and I'm glad you lived long enough to see me again. I'm thankful to you for that, thankful for making it this far all on your own. "

Ella was happy to hear his words but still unsecure as she said, " But I'm not a human, I don't know how long I've lived or how much longer will I live. I'm not even sure I can make you happy."

He listened to her and said, " It doesn't differ to me whether you're a demon or a human, I love you for who you are, if you have a different lifespan than I'll make sure to find a way to be with you forever. And lastly Ella, I'll be happy as long as you're with me by my side. "

She was on the verge of crying hearing such words after thinking all her life that he would never love her back but she was still scared of taking a step further in their relationship as everything at the moment seemed so good.

Seeing that she was still not ready to express her emotions fully he said, " I have said this before, I wouldn't rush you Ella, I'll make sure you slowly fall for me so hard that you will tell me your feelings gladly. "